Women’s Turnaround Research

Women’s Turnaround Research

The Turnaround Project was developed two and a half years ago to support women involved in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) and for women at risk of offending. The project was one of a number of women-focused community centres set up across the UK following a review of women with vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System. This review found that criminal justice provision is focused on the needs of male offenders and hasn’t adapted to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of women in prison.

Turnaround is a female only service, designed to fit the needs of women, address attitudes and behaviours, divert women away from prison, reduce family breakdown and improve wellbeing. Turnaround provides services and support for offending, accommodation, skills and employment, health, drugs and alcohol, finance, children and families, attitudes and behaviour, domestic abuse and sex work.

LJMU began their work with Turnaround in 2012 when the Centre was commissioned by Liverpool Primary Care Trust to evidence the holistic benefits of the project. They wanted to know how the project impacts on women’s lives and what women gain from accessing the project. LJMU conducted the evaluation over six months; carrying out an analysis of data collected at the service and speaking to women attending the project in focus groups and one to one interviews. The turnaround staff also collected a number of individual case studies that allowed the researchers to follow women through their time at the project.